Vehicle communication system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle communication system including an interior assembly, an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle and remote from the interior assembly, a human-machine interface located at the interior assembly, and a global positioning system control in the vehicle. The human-machine interface is connected to the in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between the human-machine interface and the in-vehicle communication control. The global positioning system control communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to the interior assembly or the in-vehicle communication control via the connective link. The HMI signal and GPS-derived signal share the connective link and are communicated via a common connective link between the in-vehicle communication control and the interior assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/964,512, filed Oct. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,341, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/511,231, filed Oct. 14, 2003, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to communication or telematics systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to a communication or telematics system for a vehicle that has an interior assembly, such as an interior rearview mirror assembly or accessory module or windshield electronic module or the like, and a human-machine interface, such as user actuatable buttons or a microphone or the like, at or in the interior assembly and connected to a telematics control unit that is in the vehicle and remote from the mirror assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a vehicle information display, such as a directional heading display or compass display, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,727, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Typically, such a mirror assembly includes a compass sensor, such as a magnetoresistive sensor, a magnetocapacitive sensor, a magnetoinductive sensor, or a flux gate sensor or the like, which may be fixedly attached to a mirror mount that attaches the mirror assembly to a mirror assembly mounting element, such as a conventional mounting button mounted on an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The mirror assembly may also include compass processing circuitry that is operable to process the signals from the sensors and to control or adjust the display to provide directional heading information to the driver or occupant of the vehicle.

It is also known to provide a telematics system, such as ONSTAR® or the like, as a vehicle feature or option or accessory. The telematics system includes a telematics electronics control unit or module that may be positioned at an instrument panel area of the vehicle or elsewhere in the vehicle and typically remote from the interior rearview mirror assembly. The telematics control module may include a global positioning system (GPS) control or unit or receiver and a cellular telephone receiver and/or the like.

The interior rearview mirror assembly in many vehicles provides a human-machine interface (HMI), such as buttons or the like and/or a microphone for interfacing with the telematics control module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,287 for TIRE INFLATION ASSISTANCE MONITORING SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The mirror assembly thus may include user actuatable inputs or buttons or controls, such as at a bezel or chin portion of the mirror assembly that are readily accessible for actuation by an occupant of the vehicle, and/or may include a microphone for receiving audible signals from within the cabin of the vehicle. The user actuatable buttons and the microphone at the interior rearview mirror assembly are typically connected to or in communication with the telematics control module. For example, a keypad status of the user actuatable buttons or keypad is typically communicated to the telematics control module via a two wire connective or communication link between the mirror assembly and the telematics control module, with the status identification being achieved via a variable resistance keypad at the buttons. The microphone is also typically connected to the telematics control module via a separate two wire connection.

It is also known in the art (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,539,306; 5,724,316; and 5,761,094, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) to utilize the global positioning system as a means of or adjunct to directional sensing for the vehicle. The GPS control unit may optionally be connected to or in communication with the compass sensor/system/display via a separate connective wiring or communication link. The wiring thus typically is separately provided for vehicles that will include such a GPS-derived directional sensing system.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a vehicle communication or telematics system, which has a human-machine-interface or accessory associated with an in-vehicle telematics control module and located at an interior assembly that is remote from the in-vehicle telematics control module, and which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a communication system that utilizes a common connective link or wire to provide different signals or data between a communication control (such as an in-vehicle telematics control unit or the like) in the vehicle and an interior assembly remote from the communication control. The communication system utilizes the existing connective link between a human-machine interface or accessory or device (such as user actuatable inputs or buttons or a microphone or the like at the interior rearview mirror assembly) and the in-vehicle communication control for either (a) communicating a signal from a vehicle-based or in-vehicle navigational system or control, such as an in-vehicle global positioning system control unit (which may be part of or incorporated into the telematics control unit) to the interior assembly (such as to a directional heading display or compass display system at the interior assembly), or (b) communicating a signal from a mirror-based or accessory module-based navigational system, such as a global positioning system control unit (which may be located at or near the interior rearview mirror assembly or at or near an accessory module or windshield electronic module or the like at or near or associated with the interior rearview mirror assembly and/or the vehicle windshield) to the in-vehicle communication control.

The global positioning system control of the communication system of the present invention may comprise a vehicle-based or telematics-based or in-vehicle GPS control unit (that may be at or near or associated with or part of the in-vehicle telematics control unit) positioned at an instrument panel of the vehicle or elsewhere in the vehicle and at a location remote from the interior assembly. The in-vehicle GPS control unit may access the connective link or pathway and may utilize the link or pathway to communicate GPS-derived signals or data to the interior assembly, such as to a directional heading display (or to a compass system or circuitry) at or near or associated with the interior assembly. For example, the in-vehicle GPS control unit may utilize aspects described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, to provide directional heading data or signals to the directional heading display.

Optionally, the global positioning system control unit of the communication system of the present invention may be positioned at or near the interior assembly, such as within the mirror assembly or at or in an accessory module or pod or attachment or windshield electronic module or the like that is at or near or attached to or associated with the interior rearview mirror assembly. The GPS control unit may access and utilize the existing connective link or pathway or wires to communicate GPS-derived signals or data (such as vehicle location or position or directional heading data and/or time data and/or the like) to the communication control located in the vehicle and remote from the interior assembly.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle communication system includes an interior assembly having a human-machine interface or accessory or device that is associated with a vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication control module or unit positioned remote from the interior assembly. The human-machine interface is connected to the in-vehicle communication control unit or module via a connective or communication pathway or link, such as a pair of wires or the like. The connective link communicates at least one human-machine interface (HMI) signal from the human-machine interface to the communication control. The communication system includes or may be associated with or in communication with a global positioning system control at or near or associated with or incorporated into the in-vehicle communication control. The global positioning system control may utilize the connective pathway or link to communicate at least one GPS-derived signal or GPS data to the interior assembly of the communication system, such as to an accessory or display or device at or in or associated with the interior assembly. The HMI signals and the GPS-derived signals share the connective link and are communicated via a common connective link between the in-vehicle communication control and the interior assembly.

For example, the interior assembly may include a directional heading display system that is operable to display information indicative of a directional heading of the vehicle to a driver or occupant of the vehicle. The GPS control may share the common connective link to communicate the GPS-derived signals or data to the directional heading display system of the interior assembly. The interior assembly may comprise an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, an accessory module of the vehicle, a windshield electronics module of the vehicle, an overhead console of the vehicle, or an extension of a console that may be positioned along the windshield of the vehicle (such as an extension of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,287 for TIRE INFLATION ASSISTANCE MONITORING SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle communication system includes an interior assembly having a human-machine interface or accessory or device associated with a vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication control module or unit positioned remote from the interior assembly. The human-machine interface is connected to the communication control unit or module via a connective or communication pathway or link, such as a pair of wires or the like, and communicates at least one human-machine interface (HMI) signal to the communication control via the connective link. The communication system includes a global positioning system control located at the interior assembly (such as at an interior rearview mirror assembly or at an accessory module or pod or attachment or windshield electronic module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly). The global positioning system control utilizes the common connective pathway or link to communicate GPS-derived signals or data to the in-vehicle communication control. The GPS-derived signals and the HMI signals share the connective link and are communicated via a common connective link between the in-vehicle communication control and the interior assembly.

Optionally, the human-machine interface may comprise a plurality of user actuatable inputs or controls or buttons that are readily accessible by an occupant of the vehicle and operable to toggle or actuate/deactuate one or more functions of the communication control. Optionally, the human-machine interface may comprise other accessories or devices or interfaces associated with or in communication with the communication control (or with a cellular telephone receiver or the like associated with or incorporated into the communication control), such as a microphone or microphones or microphone array located at or in or near the interior assembly or associated with the interior assembly or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle communication system that includes an interior assembly having a human-machine interface (such as user actuatable inputs or buttons or a microphone or the like) that is connected to or in communication with an in-vehicle communication control (such as an in-vehicle telematics control unit or the like) positioned or located remote from the interior assembly. The GPS control may utilize the existing wires or connective links or pathways that are connected between the human-machine interface and the in-vehicle communication control to communicate GPS-derived signals or data to an accessory or display at the interior assembly (if the GPS control unit is a telematics-based or in-vehicle GPS control unit and is located at or is part of the telematics control unit and is thus remote from the interior assembly), or to the in-vehicle communication control (if the GPS control unit is located at or near or is otherwise associated with the interior assembly and is thus remote from the in-vehicle communication control). The same or common existing wires or connective link thus may be used to communicate HMI signals to the communication control (such as to toggle or actuate/deactuate a function of a telematics control unit or to provide a signal indicative of an audible signal within the vehicle as received by a microphone or the like) and to communicate GPS-derived signals or data either to an accessory or display system in or at or near the interior assembly or to the in-vehicle communication control.

The present invention thus may provide an in-vehicle GPS control unit and an accessory (such as a directional heading display or compass system or the like) at an interior assembly that utilize existing wires or links or pathways between the interior assembly and the in-vehicle telematics control unit of the vehicle. The communication system of the present invention thus does not require separate wires or communication links or pathways between the GPS control unit (which may be positioned remote from the interior assembly) and the accessory or display at the interior assembly. The present invention thus may reduce the costs associated with providing GPS-derived signals or data to a compass or directional heading display or system of a mirror assembly by utilizing and sharing common and existing wiring for the additional feature.

Alternately, the present invention may provide a GPS control unit at or near the interior assembly that may utilize the existing links or pathways or wires to communicate GPS-derived signals or data (such as location or position data or directional heading data or time data and/or the like) to the in-vehicle communication or telematics module located in the vehicle and remote from the interior assembly. The present invention thus may provide an enhanced performance GPS control unit (by placing the GPS control unit and GPS antenna at the interior assembly, such as at an interior rearview mirror assembly or at or in an accessory module or pod or attachment or windshield electronic module at or near or associated with the interior rearview mirror assembly and/or the windshield or at or in an overhead console or an extension of a console at or near the windshield), without requiring additional wiring changes to the vehicle.

The present invention thus provides a common connective or communication link between the human-machine interface and communication control and between the GPS control unit and accessory or directional heading display or communication control. The present invention thus provides for communication of signals or data without requiring additional communication links or wires, and thus limits or substantially precludes any disturbance of the current or existing vehicle wiring or architecture of the vehicle. The present invention thus may provide GPS-based or GPS-derived features at a reduced cost for vehicles that already include a vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication or telematics control or module or unit with interface buttons or microphones (or other human-machine interfaces) at the interior assembly (such as at the interior rearview mirror assembly or at an accessory module or pod or windshield electronics module or the like at or near or associated with the mirror assembly or at or in an overhead console or an extension of a console) and remote from the in-vehicle communication control.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a forward facing perspective view of an interior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention, as facing generally forward with respect to a direction of travel of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 2 of another communication system in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a communication system 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of a vehicle includes an interior assembly 12, an accessory or device or display system 14 positioned at or near or within the interior assembly 12, and a vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication or telematics system electronic control module or unit or circuitry 16 positioned in the vehicle and remote from the interior assembly, such as within an instrument panel area 17 of the vehicle or elsewhere in the vehicle (such as in or at or near a vehicle console or the like). The accessory 14 may comprise a directional heading display system and may include a directional heading display or display element 18 that is operable to display directional information that is viewable at the interior assembly by a driver or occupant of the vehicle. The interior assembly 12 includes a human-machine interface (HMI) or telematics accessory or device 20 (such as one or more user actuatable inputs or buttons or controls 20 a for controlling or toggling or actuating/deactuating various functions of the communication system, or such as a microphone 20 b for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin, or the like) for providing a user interface with the in-vehicle telematics control module 16. The human-machine interface 20 is connected to or in communication with the telematics control module 16 via wires or a connective or communication pathway or link 22. The telematics control module 16 may include or may be associated with a vehicle navigational system or unit, such as a global positioning system (GPS) control or circuitry or module or unit 28 (FIG. 2) or 28′ (FIG. 3) that may access and utilize or share common wires or communication links 22 to communicate data or signals to the interior assembly 12, such as to the accessory or display or system 14 at the interior assembly 12, and/or to the telematics control module 16, as discussed below (with the link 22 being commonly used by the human-machine interface (HMI) signals between the human-machine interface 20 and telematics control module 16 and by the GPS-derived signals or data from the GPS control unit 28, 28).

The communication system of the present invention thus provides for communication between the global positioning system control unit and the compass or directional heading display system (or other accessory or system at the interior assembly that is associated with the global positioning system control unit) or communication or telematics control module via utilization of existing wires or leads or links or pathways between the telematics control module and the interior assembly, such that an addition of such a GPS feature or function results in little or no disturbance of or adverse affect on the current vehicle wiring and/or architecture.

The communication system may utilize aspects of various communication or telematics systems, such as an ONSTAR® system as found in General Motors vehicles or the like, and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552; 5,924,212; 6,243,003; 6,278,377; 6,420,975; 6,477,464; and/or 6,678,614; and/or U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796; Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978; and Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/308877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. for MICROPHONE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Apr. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/032568, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, and as discussed in detail below, the GPS control unit may comprise an in-vehicle or telematics-based GPS control unit 28 (FIG. 2), which is remote from the interior assembly (and may be provided as part of the telematics control module 16 or may be associated with or in communication with the telematics control module 16, without affecting the scope of the present invention). The GPS control unit 28 may access or utilize or share the connective or communication link or pathway or wires 22 to communicate GPS-derived data or signals, such as location or position data or directional heading data and/or time data and the like, to the compass or directional heading display system at or near or associated with the interior assembly. Optionally, and as also discussed below, the GPS control unit may comprise a mirror-based or module-based or assembly-based GPS control unit 28′ (FIG. 3) and may be positioned in or at or near the interior assembly 12, whereby the GPS control unit 28′ may access or utilize or share the connective or communication link or pathway or wires 22 to communicate GPS-derived data or signals, such as location or position data or directional heading data and/or time data and the like, to the in-vehicle telematics system module 16 located remote from the interior assembly 12.

The interior assembly 12 may comprise an interior rearview mirror assembly (as shown in FIG. 1), or may comprise another type of interior assembly, such as an accessory module or pod or attachment located at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly, or such as a windshield electronic module or windshield integration module or the like positioned at or near the windshield of the vehicle. The windshield electronic module or attachment may include other accessories or components and may utilize aspects of accessory modules such as of the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 6,243,003; 6,278,377; 6,420,975; U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; and/or Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2002 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, published on Jul. 15, 2004 as International Pub. No. WO 2004/058540 A2, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US01/06067, filed Feb. 26, 2001, International Publication No. WO 01/64481, published Sep. 7, 2001 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-869(PCT)), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. The windshield electronic module may be positioned at or near or attached to or associated with or adjacent to the windshield of the vehicle such that at least a portion of the windshield electronic module is positioned at the windshield. The windshield electronic module may attach to the windshield, and may have a view toward the windshield, or may be an extension of a header console or the like, such as a windshield module of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,287; and in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/232,122, filed Aug. 30, 2002 by Schofield et al. for VEHICULAR HEADER CONSOLE SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,215, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Such windshield electronic modules may be separate and distinct from an interior rearview mirror assembly. Optionally, the interior assembly may comprise an overhead accessory console of the vehicle that is at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of a vehicle. Other types of interior assemblies may be implemented, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

The global positioning system control unit 28, 28′ may comprise a GPS receiver/signal processor that is connected to a GPS antenna 30, 30′ that receives a satellite communication to determine the geographic location of the vehicle, as is known in the art. Such global positioning system receivers / processors, sometimes referred to as a GPS chip set, are available from various suppliers, such as, for example, Motorola of Schaumburg, Ill. and Trimble Navigation of Sunnyvale, Calif. By deduction of the point-to-point locational movement of the vehicle, the directional heading (e.g., N, S, E, W, etc., which may be displayed as characters, icons, indicial or other indicators or the like) of the vehicle can be deduced by the GPS control unit.

The human-machine interface or accessory or device 20 may comprise one or more user actuatable inputs 20 a. The user actuatable inputs 20 a (such as buttons, switches or the like) may be positioned at and associated with a keypad 24 that is connected to the telematics control module 16 of the vehicle via wires or link or pathway 22 a. For example, one of a pair of wires may provide an initial voltage to the keypad 24, while the other wire or return wire may provide a return voltage or signal to the telematics control module 16. The keypad 24 may include a voltage divider comprising a plurality of resistors to drop the voltage down or reduce the voltage in response to one of the inputs or buttons 20 a being actuated or depressed by a user. For example, each button may be associated with a respective resistor, whereby actuation of one of the buttons causes a respective drop in voltage (via the respective resistor) such that the return voltage (along the other or return wire of wire or link 22 a) to the telematics control module 16 indicates which button was actuated. The keypad or resistive ladder interface thus provides multiple voltage conditions (for example, four voltage conditions for three inputs or buttons) for the various conditions (no button actuated or one of the three buttons actuated) that may be encountered via actuation of the user inputs or buttons at the interior assembly.

Alternately, the communication or telematics control module 16 may also or otherwise be connected to another human-machine interface or accessory or device, such as microphone 20 b (which may be positioned at or in or near the interior rearview mirror assembly or at or in or near an accessory module or pod or windshield electronics module at or near or associated with or attached to the interior rearview mirror assembly or at an overhead console or the like) via wires or connective or communication link or pathway 22 b. The microphone may be any type of microphone or microphones or microphone array suitable for use with the telematics system or telematics control module, and may utilize aspects of the microphones described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and 6,420,975; and PCT Application No. US/2003/030877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MICROPHONE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now published as PCT Pub. No. WO 2004/032568 A1, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, and as shown FIG. 2, a vehicle-based or telematics-based or in-vehicle GPS control unit 28 may be positioned at or near or may be incorporated in the in-vehicle telematics module 16, such as at the instrument panel area 17 of the vehicle or at a console of the vehicle or the like. The GPS control unit 28 may be connected to or may be in communication with the common link or pathway 22 and may utilize the existing link or pathway 22 to communicate GPS-derived signals or data to the interior assembly 12, such as to an accessory or device or display, such as a directional heading display system 14 and/or directional heading display element 18 at the interior rearview mirror assembly or the like, in order to provide directional heading data and/or position data to the directional heading display system, such as by utilizing the principles described in U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; and/or Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published Dec. 2, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, as described below, the GPS control unit 28 may communicate such GPS-derived data or signals to a compass sensor or system or circuitry 15 or to the directional heading display 18 in applications that do not include the magnetoresponsive compass sensor system, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Optionally, the GPS control unit 28 may communicate such GPS-derived data or signals to other GPS-based accessories or systems at the interior assembly or other accessories or systems that are positioned or located at the interior assembly and are suitable to receive such GPS-derived data or signals, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The common connective link 22 thus may communicate HMI signals down the link to the telematics control unit or module while also providing a conduit or link for communicating GPS-derived signals or data up the link to the interior assembly.

Optionally, the communication system of the present invention may be incorporated into a vehicle that includes a network bus, such as a CAN bus or a LIN bus or the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,905, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The common connective link 22 may connect at or convert to the LIN bus (or CAN bus, such as a dedicated CAN bus or the like, or other interface connection or the like), such that a LIN bus node 32 a is at or near the vehicle-based telematics control module 16 at the instrument panel or console or the like and a LIN bus node 32 b is at or near the interior assembly or mirror assembly or accessory module or the like. The bus nodes 32 a, 32 b and link 22 thus may transfer GPS-derived data or signals from the GPS control unit 28 to the accessory or display system 14, while the nodes and link may provide the voltage supply and return signals or HMI signals to and from the keypad 24 or other human-machine interface or telematics accessory or device at or near or associated with the interior assembly. The communication system of the present invention thus may utilize the same or common wires or link or pathway to provide or communicate HMI signals to the telematics control module from user inputs or a microphone or the like at the interior assembly and to provide or communicate GPS-derived data or signals to the accessory or display system (such as a directional heading display or the like) at or in the interior assembly from the GPS control unit at the telematics control module or otherwise remote from the interior assembly.

The network bus may be operable to communicate with other systems of the vehicle, such as with accessories or elements of an accessory module, such as an accessory module of the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 6,243,003; 6,278,377 and 6,420,975; U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281; and/or International Publication No. WO 01/64481, published Sep. 7, 2001 (Attorney Docket DON01 FP-869(PCT)), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the GPS control unit and telematics control module and the accessories or components of the interior assembly or mirror assembly or accessory or electronic module or the like may be connected to the vehicle electronic or communication systems and may be connected via other various protocols or nodes, such as Bluetooth, SCP, UBP, J1850, CAN J2284, Fire Wire 1394, MOST and/or the like, depending on the particular application of the communication system of the present invention

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 3, a communication system 10′ may comprise a GPS control unit 28′ and a GPS antenna 30′, which may be positioned at or in or near the interior assembly 12, such as at or in or near the interior rearview mirror assembly or at or in an accessory module or attachment or windshield electronic module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly or the windshield of the vehicle, an overhead accessory console of the vehicle at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of a vehicle, or an extension of a console of the vehicle or the like. The GPS control unit 28′ may be connected to or in communication with the connective or communication link or pathway or wires 22 and may utilize the common connective link 22 to communicate a GPS-derived signal or data to the vehicle-based telematics control module 16′ (which may not include a GPS control unit or circuitry or receiver), in order to provide location data or other GPS-derived data to the telematics control module. The GPS control unit 28′ may also communicate with the accessory or display system 14 at or near or associated with the interior assembly 12, as discussed above.

As also discussed above, the common connective link 22 may connect at or convert to a LIN bus or the like at the keypad 24 at the interior assembly or mirror assembly or accessory module or the like and at the telematics control module 16. The bus or nodes 32 a, 32 b and link 22 thus may transfer data from the GPS control unit 28′ to the vehicle-based telematics control module 16, while the nodes and link may provide the voltage supply and return signals to and from the keypad 24 (or other HMI signals from a microphone or other human-machine interface or telematics accessory or device at or near or associated with the interior assembly). The communication system of the present invention thus may utilize the same or common wires or link or pathway to communicate HMI signals to provide control of the telematics control module via user inputs at the interior assembly and to communicate GPS-derived data or signals to the vehicle-based telematics control module from the GPS control unit at or near or associated with the interior assembly.

Optionally, the GPS-derived data or signals communicated from the GPS control unit 28, 28′ may be superimposed on the common link or pathway 22, such as via superimposing data or signals associated with or indicative of the GPS position or location or directional heading information on top of the voltage conditions associated with the keypad, such as via modulation or coding of the signals on the common wires or link (whereby the LIN bus nodes or the like may not be necessary), without affecting the scope of the present invention. Optionally, other existing wires or communication or connective links or pathways, such as wires or links between the telematics control module and a microphone (such as a microphone at the mirror assembly or accessory module at or near or associated with the mirror assembly) or the like, may be utilized or shared by the telematics control module and the global positioning system control unit, such as in a similar manner as described above. The common connective wires or links or pathways thus may be shared by the telematics control module and the GPS control unit to provide the desired or appropriate voltage or signal or data to the appropriate accessory or device or system or display, without requiring separate wires or communication links or pathways between the modules, units and/or systems of the communication system of the present invention.

Interior assembly 12 may include or may be associated with a compass or directional heading display system 14, which includes the directional heading display 18. The directional heading display system 14 may include or comprise compass sensors and circuitry 15, which function to detect a directional heading of the vehicle relative to the earth's magnetic field, as is known in the art. The compass sensor may be any known sensor type, such as a magnetoresistive sensor (such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,802,727 and 6,513,252, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), a magnetocapacitive sensor, a magnetoinductive sensor, or a flux-gate sensor or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The compass sensor may include a pair of sensors positioned generally orthogonal to one another. The generally orthogonal sensors are preferably oriented relative to the vehicle such that one of the sensors is generally parallel to the floor of the vehicle and pointing generally forwardly in the direction of travel of the vehicle, while the other is generally orthogonal or perpendicular to the first sensor. The compass sensor or sensors provide an output signal to the compass processing circuitry, which is operable to process the output signal to determine the vehicle heading and to actuate or control or adjust an output of directional heading display 18 in response to the output signal.

The compass sensors and/or circuitry 15 may be located on a printed circuit board (PCB) that may be mounted or positioned or bonded along the rear surface of the mirror reflective element 12 a (FIG. 1) of the interior rearview mirror assembly. Optionally, the compass system and circuit board and circuitry may be positioned elsewhere in or at the mirror assembly or in or at an accessory module or compass module or pod or windshield electronic module associated with or positioned near or at or attached to the interior rearview mirror assembly (such as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), without affecting the scope of the present invention. Optionally, the circuitry may be located or applied or printed directly on the reflective element, such as in the manner described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/956,749, filed Oct. 1, 2004 by Schofield for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMPONENT (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1173), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The printed circuit board or reflective element assembly may include all of the processing circuitry and the compass sensor. Such processing circuitry may include compensation methods known in the art, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,644,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,501; and 6,222,460, and U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/999,429, filed Nov. 15, 2001 by DeLine et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM INCORPORATING A DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION DISPLAY, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,851, and European patent application, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, the compass circuitry or sensors may be attached to or positioned at the reflective element of the mirror assembly and thus may be movable with the reflective element when a user adjusts the mirror assembly to provide the desired rearward viewing. It is envisioned that such sensors or circuitry may be positioned at the reflective element of a memory mirror system, such that the movement of the reflective element may be tracked by the system and the orientation of the sensors thus may be known to the system. The system may determine the orientation of the sensors and/or mirror assembly and thus may calculate or compensate for the change to the orientation or azimuth of the compass sensors to determine the correct vehicle heading. The system may be initially set up with an initial setting that corresponds to an initial position or orientation of the compass sensors, and then adjustment of the reflective element by the adjustment mechanism of the memory system may be tracked and/or determined as the mirror assembly is adjusted. Such an application is particularly suitable for memory mirror systems, particularly where the reflective element is movable relative to a fixed housing or casing or the like.

The GPS control unit 28, 28′ may be operable to provide GPS-derived directional heading information that is auxiliary to the compass system sensors and circuitry (so that the GPS control unit may assist in providing GPS-derived directional heading data or information at the directional heading display 18 in situations where the compass sensors and circuitry are not yet calibrated or are adversely affected by their surroundings). For example, the compass sensors (such as magnetoresistive sensors or magnetoinductive sensors or the like) or compass circuitry or system of the communication system of the present invention may be operable in communication or cooperation with circuitry and components of the GPS control unit, such as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The GPS-derived locational or directional heading data or signals provided by the global positioning system control unit to the directional heading display system may include longitudinal and latitudinal locational or position data and may include height or altitude data, so that a vehicle location in three dimensional space may be established. The GPS-derived locational data or directional heading data or signals may be provided to the compass circuitry or system to facilitate calibration of the compass system or to provide directional heading data or information to the compass system in situations where the compass sensors may be adversely affected by external or local magnetic anomalies at or near the vehicle. Other GPS-derived data or information (such as time data and/or the like) may also or otherwise be provided to the directional heading display system or to another mirror-based or module-based system and/or display, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the compass system or sensors may be operable as an auxiliary system to the global positioning system control unit of the vehicle, which may be operable to provide the primary directional heading data or signal to the directional heading display. For example, the magnetoresponsive compass sensor or circuitry responsive to the earth's magnetic field may be operable in conjunction with the global positioning system control module to provide directional heading data to the global positioning system, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The compass sensor/circuitry may provide such directional heading data to assist the global positioning system in maintaining tracking of the location of the vehicle, such as between waypoints or the like, when the satellite signal to the global positioning system is interrupted, such as may occur in cities between tall buildings (often referred to as “urban canyons”) or the like. Other vehicle movement data may also be provided, such as vehicle speed data or vehicle odometer data or the like, to further assist in determining and tracking the location of the vehicle in situations where the satellite communication to the global positioning system of the vehicle may be temporarily interrupted or compromised. Optionally, an imaging system (such as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) may be used to further assist in determining and tracking the location of the vehicle in situations where the satellite communication to the global positioning system may be temporarily interrupted or compromised. Because the magnetoresponsive sensor may thus be an auxiliary sensor to the main or primary GPS-based directional heading system, algorithms and complexities known for compass calibration and/or for obviation of vehicle deviating fields and/or for obviation of the affects of stray external magnetic anomalies (and/or for compensation of deviations in vehicle magnetic fields, such as may occur as the vehicle ages or the like) need not be utilized.

Alternately, the global positioning system control unit can serve as the sole directional sensing means and may be connected to or in communication with the directional heading display 18, and thus may obviate the need for a magnetoresponsive sensor or the like and associated circuitry that detect the local earth's magnetic fields, such as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

In such navigational or GPS-derived or GPS-based directional heading systems, the directional heading deduced may not be affected by vehicle sheet metal or local magnetic anomalies (such as bridges, signs, etc.). This is because the directional heading is deduced from signals, such as radio frequency signals or microwave signals or the like received from satellites, which are not affected by such local magnetic anomalies. Thus, traditional calibration and re-calibration of the compass system may not be needed, nor may there be any need to compensate for any vehicle magnetic field or change thereto over the lifetime of usage of the vehicle.

Likewise, such a system does not require a zone input to set the compass system to the appropriate zone, since the GPS-derived data will indicate the geographic location of the vehicle irrespective of which zone the vehicle is in. It is envisioned that such a GPS-derived compass system may determine or deduce the directional heading as degrees from a particular direction, such as, for example, 42 degrees from a North heading or the like, and thus the directional heading output of the GPS-derived compass system may be displayed as degrees to provide a more accurate representation to the driver or occupant of the vehicle as to the actual directional heading of the vehicle.

The directional heading display 18 may provide directional heading information to a driver or occupant of the vehicle, such as at the reflective element 12 a of the interior rearview mirror assembly, and may be viewable through the reflective element by the driver or occupant of the vehicle. Directional heading display 18 may comprise any type of display for displaying directional heading information to the driver or occupant of the vehicle. For example, the display may comprise a plurality of ports (such as ports or windows in the form of directional heading characters, such as N, S, E, W or N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW or the like) formed in the reflective coating of the reflective element. The display may include a plurality of illumination sources positioned behind and aligned with respective ports, such as disclosed in U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; and Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published Dec. 2, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

For example, the display may include four or eight illumination sources (preferably light emitting diodes) mounted on a printed circuit board and with the printed circuit board arranged behind the reflective element such that each of the individual illumination sources is behind and aligned with a respective one of the ports (which may be formed as the characters N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) formed or etched in the reflective coating of the reflective element. Each of the illumination sources may be positioned on the printed circuit board such that it is aligned with, behind and emitting through a respective one of the ports (that are preferably created on the reflective element itself). Examples of such displays are described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; and Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published Dec. 2, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, the display may comprise other types of display elements and may be positioned at and viewable through the reflective element, such as at a display window or port at the reflective element. The window may be formed at the reflective element by etching or otherwise forming a window or port at the appropriate location in the reflective coating or layer of the reflective element. Optionally, the window or ports may be formed or defined by a variation in the physical thicknesses or refractive indices or characteristics of multiple reflective element layers or coatings to provide for selective transmission of the illumination emitted by the display elements while reflecting other light, such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/026633, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, a light diffuser and/or a spectral filter may be interposed between the light source and the rear of the reflective element. The compass processing circuitry (that typically includes digital circuitry including a microprocessor running compensation and other compass-related software) may be operable to energize or actuate one or more illumination sources or elements to display the directional heading of the vehicle to the driver. Optionally, the display may comprise other types of displays, such as alphanumeric characters or the like that may be adjusted or controlled to display the appropriate directional information, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The illumination sources or display elements may be mounted on a printed circuit board and the reflective element and printed circuit board may be incorporated, such as by snapping into place, on or within the casing of the mirror assembly, with minimal invasiveness to the casing and overall design and tooling of the mirror assembly.

Optionally, the communications or telematics system, such as ONSTAR® or the like, may function to receive traffic flow data or information and may provide such information to the driver of the subject vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include or provide a highway/road management/monitoring system that is operable to provide traffic information and alternate routes to a driver of a vehicle via the telematics system of the vehicle. The remote telematics concierge base or center or operator may receive traffic information from a traffic monitoring system. For example, such a traffic monitoring system may collect traffic information via cameras or the like positioned along a highway or road and may communicate traffic information (such as traffic congestion or accidents or stalled vehicles, etc.) in vehicles along that road or approaching that road via signs and displays positioned along that road or on other roads near or associated with that road and/or that communicate traffic flow/density data to governmental/municipal agencies and bodies (such systems are known in the art and implemented along many highways and freeways). The telematics operator/service may receive the traffic information from the monitoring system and may communicate such traffic information to the driver of the vehicle if the vehicle is heading toward a congested area. The information may be automatically provided to the driver of the vehicle (such as via a display or alert to the driver if the vehicle is heading toward a congested or backed up road or area, where the alert may be provided in response to a detection of the vehicle heading and location such as via a global positioning system or the like) or may be provided in response to a request from the driver of the vehicle. For example, if a driver requests from the telematics operator directions to a particular location (such as to a restaurant or the like), the telematics operator may check the traffic information along the preferred route and inform the driver of the traffic condition along that route, and may provide an alternate route if the traffic conditions are unfavorable.

The telematics system thus may assist the driver of the vehicle in avoiding unfavorable traffic conditions, such as due to backups or construction or accidents or the like. The information may be spoken to the driver by the telematics operator or may be provided via a display, such as an image display of the traffic conditions or a text display or iconistic display or the like, that alerts the driver to the unfavorable traffic conditions. The driver thus may be provided with variable routing information or directions to the desired location, depending on the traffic conditions along the preferred or optional or possible routes.

Optionally, the telematics system or concierge service may be operable to provide weather information or data to the vehicle to display or communicate the current weather at a selected destination and/or a weather forecast at the present vehicle location or selected destination. Such a weather service or function may be selected as an option with the concierge service and paid for by the user or owner of the vehicle. The user or driver of the vehicle may select such a feature and may notify the telematics operator of the desired information, whereby the operator or service may provide the requested information or data to the vehicle. The requested weather data may be provided when the request is made or, if desired, may be provided at a later time. For example, the driver may request the weather data and/or weather update and/or forecast for a particular destination and may request such information when the vehicle is approaching the destination, such as when the vehicle is about a half hour away from the destination or at some other time or distance from the destination. The telematics or concierge service may then communicate the requested weather data to the vehicle when the vehicle is at the appropriate time or distance from the destination. For example, a video slide out display (such as described below) may automatically extend and display the weather information at the appropriate time or location. Such a provision of weather data may be automatically provided when the telematics system detects the vehicle at the appropriate time or distance from the destination (such as via a global positioning system or the like) and may be audibly or visually (such as on a video display screen, such as a screen that may automatically extend (such as described below) to display such information at the appropriate time/location) conveyed/communicated to the driver of the vehicle.

Optionally, the telematics system and display may be operable to display weather warnings and the like, such as tornado warnings or the like, when an emergency situation exists.

For example, the telematics service may receive a tornado warning from an emergency broadcast network or system and may provide notification and/or details of such a warning to the vehicle via the communication system and/or display of the vehicle. When such a warning is detected for a particular area, the telematics service may alert the vehicle if the vehicle is in that particular area, and may provide instructions as to how to avoid or leave the dangerous condition or otherwise how to act or where to go to minimize the danger. It is envisioned that such a feature or function may be offered as an option to users of the telematics service, and the service may communicate or send out such a warning or alert to all vehicles in the effected area that have that feature or function or option as selected by the owners or users of the vehicles.

Optionally, and similarly, the telematics service may be operable to provide other warnings or alerts to the vehicle or vehicles. For example, the service may provide train information pertaining to a train on railroad tracks that the vehicle is approaching. The telematics service may provide a warning that the train is approaching a crossing ahead of the vehicle (such as may be determined via global positioning systems of the train and the subject vehicle) or other information that may be desired. The train information may be obtained by utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268 and 6,553,308 and/or U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/755,915, filed Jan. 13, 2004 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1133), and Ser. No. 09/585,379, filed Jun. 1, 2000, and Ser. No. 10/307,929, filed Dec. 2, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,284, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, the telematics system and display may be operable to automatically display other information to the driver of the vehicle, such as personal data or appointment data, such as may be downloaded via a PDA or other planner or the like. The data, such as an alert or reminder that it is almost time for a scheduled appointment or the like, may be automatically provided to the driver at the appropriate or elected time (such as fifteen minutes before an appointment), and may be provided via automatic extension and activation of a display screen, such as described below.

Optionally, the telematics system and display may be operable to provide home security or home status or home utility information or data to the driver of the vehicle when the vehicle and driver are away from home. For example, the telematics service may receive information or signals from a home security system and may alert the driver of the vehicle when the home security system is triggered. Thus, if an alarm is activated at home, the driver may be alerted of the situation and may take the appropriate action. It is envisioned that a display or video image captured by a security camera at the home may be fed to the telematics service and thus may be fed to the vehicle display and displayed to the driver if desired (such as automatically or in response to a user input or election by the driver when the driver receives the alert or notification of the alarm being activated).

Optionally, the vehicle may include an accessory module or windshield electronic module positioned at or near or associated with the windshield of the vehicle. The accessory module may comprise any type of accessory module or windshield electronics module or console, such as the types described in U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281; and Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 6,250,148; 6,341,523; 6,593,565; and 6,326,613, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The windshield electronic module and/or accessory module and/or interior rearview mirror assembly (or a compass pod or module or an accessory module associated with the mirror assembly) may include one or more accessories, such as one or more camera-based or imaging systems, such as a rain sensor (such as the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,176; 6,353,392 and 6,313,454, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), an image sensor (such as a video camera or imaging sensor, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), or any other sensor or device. For example, the module or mirror assembly may include a forward facing video image sensor or system, which may include an intelligent rain sensor (such as the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,176; 6,353,392 and 6,313,454, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), an image or vision system (including an imaging sensor, such as a video camera, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, and U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), an intelligent headlamp controller (such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,094 and/or in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), an intelligent lane departure warning system or object detection system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003 by Pawlicki et al. for OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or the like. Optionally, the lane departure warning system may determine weaving or drifting of the vehicle across the lane markers along the road surface and may utilize such information to determine a driver condition or the like. The imaging sensor and/or control circuitry of the mirror assembly may be incorporated into or operable in conjunction with a vision system or imaging system of the vehicle, such as a rearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,717,610; and/or 6,757,109, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, a trailer hitching aid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 by McMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, a cabin viewing device or system, such as a baby viewing or rear seat viewing camera or device or system or the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,897 and 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, a video communication device or system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or the like.

Optionally, a headlamp control system of the vehicle may include an image sensor that is directed forwardly with a forward field of view. The headlamp control system may detect objects and light sources of interest in the forward field of view and may adjust a headlamp beam setting in response to such detections, and may utilize aspects of the headlamp control systems and imaging systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023; 5,796,094; 6,320,176; 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 5,877,897; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; and/or 6,757,109, and/or U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978; Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281; Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003 by Pawlicki et al. for OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; Ser. No. 10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 by McMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/562,480, filed Apr. 15, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; and Ser. No. 60/607,963, filed Sep. 8, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Optionally, the imaging system may include a far infrared sensor or camera that is positioned at the vehicle and facing forwardly with a forward facing field of view. Such thermal imaging night vision systems are known, and preferably comprise a microbolometer array or equivalent. The far infrared sensor may be positioned exteriorly of the vehicle and may detect or sense heat sources or light sources emitting far infrared radiation or energy (such as far infrared radiation having wavelengths in the range of approximately 8-14 microns or thereabouts) in the forward field of view. Such thermal imaging night vision systems distinguish objects and people based on their thermal profile/difference compared to the background. The far infrared sensor thus may function to detect tail pipes and grills of other vehicles in the forward field of view (as these will be hotter than adjacent structure/parts of oncoming or leading vehicles) and the thermal image produced may be processed by an automatic headlamp controller that may utilize such information to determine if another vehicle is in the forward field of view (by distinguishing an oncoming vehicle grill or a hot exhaust tail pipe being approached) or even if a detected “hot spot” is a headlamp or taillight of a vehicle or the like. The headlamp controller thus may utilize such a far infrared sensor or heat sensor for a headlamp control function, such as changing from a high beam headlight condition to a low beam headlight condition when the hot grill of an approaching vehicle is detected, or the data from the thermal imaging system can be used to control an adaptive lighting function of the vehicle.

Optionally, such a far infrared sensor may also or otherwise be utilized in connection with a vision system, particularly for a night vision system or the like. Thus, the head lamp control function can be provided as an off-shoot of a night vision system (whether an active night vision system where the forward scene is illuminated with infrared lighting or a passive night vision system where the thermal emissions of the bodies being viewed are detected). Another functionality preferably combined is lane marker detection to provide a lane departure warning functionality. More preferably, a combined night vision functionality, automatic HI/LOW beam headlamp control functionality and lane departure warning capability is provided using the same forward facing imager array or camera. Other functionalities, such as adaptive cruise control, sign recognition, rain/fog sensing and pedestrian/object detection and the like, can be include with a forward facing vision system, and by utilizing the one camera or image sensor or imaging array.

Optionally, the windshield electronic module and/or accessory module and/or interior rearview mirror assembly (or a compass pod or module or an accessory module associated with the mirror assembly) may include or may be associated with other accessories, such as one or more electrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas, including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a voice recorder, a digital network, such as the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like, such as the types described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/770,736, filed Feb. 3, 2004 by Baumgardner et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,322, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771; and 5,798,688 (and may provide a storage compartment, such as for storing a hand held garage door opening device or transmitting device or the like), a digital network, such as the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a memory mirror system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video device for internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keyless entry receiver, a video mirror system, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 6,428,172 and 6,420,975, and U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/585,379, filed Jun. 1, 2000 for REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS; and Ser. No. 10/307,929, filed Dec. 2, 2002 by Hutzel et al. for AN INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM INCLUDING A PENDENT ACCESSORY, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,284, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more other lights or illumination sources, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,690,268; 6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698, and/or U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, microphones, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003, and published Apr. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/032568, speakers, a compass or compass system (which may include the compass sensing circuitry), such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, and/or U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, a navigation system, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,678,614 and 6,477,464, and U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796; and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, a tire pressure monitoring system, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,731,205; 6,294,989; 6,124,647; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/611,796, filed Sep. 21, 2004 by O'Brien for TIRE PRESSURE ALERT SYSTEM, a seat occupancy detector, a trip computer, a remote starter control, a yaw sensor, a clock, a carbon monoxide detector, a temperature sensor (such as a contact temperature sensor for measuring the temperature at or of the windshield), an antenna, status displays, such as displays that display a status of a door of the vehicle, a transmission selection (4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) or the like), an antilock braking system, a road condition (that may warn the driver of icy road conditions), and/or any other desired accessory or system or the like (with all of the above-referenced patents and patent applications and provisional applications and PCT applications being commonly assigned to Donnelly Corporation, and with the disclosures of all of the above referenced patents and patent applications and provisional applications and PCT applications being hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the windshield electronic module and/or accessory module and/or interior rearview mirror assembly (or a compass pod or module or an accessory module associated with the mirror assembly) may include a display element, such as a video display element or the like, that may be viewable by a driver or occupant of the vehicle, such as to view vehicle information or captured images, such as images captured by an imaging system of the vehicle. For example, the display element may slide out or flip up or down from the housing or casing of the mirror assembly to provide a video screen that is viewable by the driver of the vehicle, such as a video display screen of the type described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The video display screen may be operable to display information to the driver of the vehicle, and may be incorporated into or may be in communication with a vision system or imaging system of the vehicle, such as a rearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,717,610; and/or 6,757,109, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, a trailer hitching aid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003 by McMahon et al. for VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, a cabin viewing device or system, such as a baby viewing or rear seat viewing camera or device or system or the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,897 and 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, a video communication device or system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or the like. Optionally, the video display screen may also or otherwise serve as a screen for a navigation system of the vehicle or the like, such as a GPS-based navigation system, such as is known in the automotive art.

Optionally, the video display, such as in a mirror assembly or accessory module or pod or the like in the vehicle, may be operable or controllable to provide a text or image display of the vehicle's owners manual or the user manual or the like for the vehicle or other components or systems or accessories of the vehicle. The display or video mirror (or module or the like) may provide to a user the ability to pull up the user's manual and scroll through the different sections or portions of the manual. The display thus provides the information from the user's manual to the user or driver of the vehicle at the mirror or module and allows the user to scroll through the manual and select the desired section or topic to obtain the desired information, such as, for example, the instructions on how to control or adjust or set the radio and/or clock settings of the vehicle or the like.

It is further envisioned that the display may supplement the user's manual images or text or information with a video clip or animation or the like showing the user how to perform the desired task, such as adjusting or controlling an accessory or repairing an accessory or component or the like. For example, if a user selects the section on setting the clock of the vehicle, the user may read the instructions on how to set the clock, and then may view a video or animation of a person setting the clock. The display thus provides the desired instructions and information along with images or video clips of the instructions being carried out to enhance the instructions to the user or driver of the vehicle.

Optionally, the manual or information or video clips may include a vehicle orientation video that a user may watch shortly after purchasing their vehicle to learn about many of the features or accessories of the vehicle. Optionally, the display and selection of particular sections of the manual may be linked to the activation of a vehicle warning or fault indication, such as a low or flat tire inflation detection or a detection of an inactive or burned out or failed signal light or taillight or headlamp or the like. The display thus may provide a service instruction or repair instruction or help function, and may display the appropriate portion or section of the manual (which may show instructions or video clips on how to correct or repair or replace the detected fault or item) or other appropriate message (such as an alert to take the vehicle in for service or repair) automatically in response to a detection of a vehicle warning or fault or alert. For example, if a flat tire is detected, such as by a tire pressure monitoring system of the vehicle, the display may automatically display an alert and may display the section of the manual that shows how to change a tire of the vehicle.

Optionally, the display may provide, such as in connection with the telematics system or telematics or concierge service described above, instructions on where to go to have the tire repaired or where to go to have the failed light replaced or where to go to purchase a new light (along with instructions as to how to replace the light) or the like. It is envisioned that additional information pertaining to the repair shops or stores in the area of the vehicle may be provided via the telematics service. For example, directional instructions to the store may be provided along with a price or sale at the store for the damaged or failed item. The display may initially display only the alert that the item failed, and may display more details if such details are requested by the driver or user. It is envisioned that the display may have multiple levels of details or messages or information so that the driver or user may select and view more details or deeper messages only when such additional details are desired. Optionally, if desired or selected, the display may extend and display further information as the vehicle approaches the store or service station to remind the driver and/or provide additional instructions.

Optionally, the display may automatically display the particular or appropriate section or portion of the owner's or user's manual after the detection of the fault or error or problem and only after the vehicle is shifted into park (or when the vehicle slows to a threshold speed, such as at or below about 5 to 10 miles per hour or thereabouts), so that the display does not distract the driver of the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven. Optionally, the display may display the particular or appropriate section or portion of the manual after the detection of the fault or error or problem and after a user actuates a user input at the display (or elsewhere in the vehicle), so that a user may view the displayed information even while the vehicle is being driven or operated, if desired. Optionally, the display screen may partially extend from a housing (such as from the mirror assembly or accessory module of the vehicle, such as a display of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/755,915, filed Jan. 13, 2004 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1133) and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) to provide an initial indication or alert to the driver, and may extend substantially or fully to display the instructions or message or video clip or the like in response to a user input or command by the driver upon seeing the initial indication or alert (such as described below). Optionally, if the user does not depress or actuate the user input, the display may automatically activate and display the appropriate information and/or images when the vehicle is shifted into park (or slows to a threshold speed, such as at or below about 5 to 10 miles per hour or thereabouts) following the detection or warning signal.

The owner's or user's manual or instructions and/or video images or clips may be downloaded and stored in a processor or control of the display or of the vehicle and may be uploaded and viewed as desired. Optionally, the instructions and/or video images may be downloaded on demand or as requested by a user, such as via the telematics system of the vehicle. For example, a user may scroll through a menu and select a desired function or feature of the vehicle from the menu, whereby the telematics system may download the instructions or manual and/or video clip for the desired function or feature from the remote telematics base.

The user may then view the instructions and/or video clip to learn how to control or adjust or set or repair the selected function or accessory or component or the like of the vehicle.

Optionally, other information may be provided at the display, such as first aid information or instructions, that the driver or user may scroll through and select the desired topic.

For example, if an accident or other health related emergency occurs, such as a vehicle crash or a snake bite or other injury or accident or illness, a user may access a first aid directory and scroll through the topics displayed and select the appropriate instructions. The display may display the instructions and may provide a video clip or image or animation to assist the user in understanding what to do to assist the injured person. The display may provide an emergency contact number and/or the communication system may provide a connection to the emergency contact if desired.

Optionally, the display may function as a video phone display, and may provide a display of call records or phone numbers or listings or the like to the user as desired or selected by the user. The display may be connected to a phone embedded in the vehicle or to a personal phone connected to the vehicle, such as via a Bluetooth connection or other wireless connections. For example, and such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/607,963, filed Sep. 8, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, the accessory module and/or interior rearview mirror assembly or system of the vehicle may include a hands free phone system and display, and thus may include the interface driver, microphone or microphones, user inputs, speech recognition system and/or the like. The audio signal from the system of the module or mirror assembly is preferably linked to the radio head, such as to a plug or connector at the radio head that accepts external audio signals and mute signals. The system thus may mute the audio and effectively take over the speakers when the phone is in use. This connection to the vehicle audio or radio or speaker system may utilize a communication link, such as a Bluetooth communication protocol or link. The signals from the mobile or cellular phone to the mirror assembly or accessory module may be communicated via a Bluetooth link, while the signals from the mirror assembly or accessory module to the radio head may also be communicated via a Bluetooth link. The display, such as a transflective or display on demand display, may display at least some of the phone information, such as the number dialed, the incoming number, the status of the call, strength of signal, phone book, messages, and/or the like. Although described as utilizing a Bluetooth communication link or protocol, other communication links may be implemented, such as other short/restricted range radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) communication protocol. Optionally, the display may provide a video teleconferencing function when the telephone or communication system is connected to another video communication device. Optionally, and desirably, the display may only function in the video teleconference mode when the vehicle is in park or slowed to at or below a threshold speed, such as at or below 5 to 10 miles per hour or thereabouts.

Optionally, the display may comprise a video display screen that may slide out or flip up or down from the housing or casing of the mirror assembly to provide a video screen that is viewable by the driver of the vehicle, such as a video display screen of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/755,915, filed Jan. 13, 2004 (Attorney Docket DON01 P-1133) and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The video display screen may substantially or fully extend (such as from a side of the mirror assembly and toward the passenger side of the vehicle) to display images to the driver, such as images captured by a rearward facing camera or imaging sensor to provide a backup aid to the driver of the vehicle. In such an application, the display screen may substantially or fully extend to provide such images in response to the vehicle being shifted to reverse. When the vehicle is shifted out of reverse, the display screen retracts so that it is not readily viewable by the driver.

Optionally, the display screen may be operable to partially or substantially (but not entirely) retract so that a portion of the display screen remains viewable by the driver of the vehicle. The viewable partial display screen may provide an alert signal, such as an icon or indicator or display or the like, at the partially extended and viewable portion of the display to alert the driver of a particular condition or situation or message or the like. Optionally, the display screen may be operable to partially retract from an extended position and/or to partially extend from a fully retracted position to provide such an alert signal or indication as described below.

Optionally, the display screen may provide an initial information display or alert that triggers further use of the display screen if desired by the user or driver. The alert indication may alert the driver of a condition or situation or event or the like (such as an indication of a received email message or phone message or the like or an indication of a sensed condition of the vehicle, such as, for example, a detection of an approaching waypoint of a navigation route or a change in tire pressure or the like), and the driver of the vehicle may be invited to respond to the initial display or alert and have the display screen fully extend to display the rest of the message or to display a message or information relating to or associated with the initial display or alert (for example, such as a description of a missed waypoint and instructions how to get back on course or such as a description of which tire pressure is low and what the pressure is in that tire). For example, the display screen may extend to alert the driver that an email message or phone message or voice message has been received, such as by displaying a message or icon that conveys to the driver or informs the driver of such a condition. The driver may then elect to view the email message (or view information or the like associated with the alert) by providing a user input, such as a voice command or a touch input or the like, whereby the display screen may fully extend in response to the user input and may display the email message or call records or other information or the like associated with the initial alert.

The display screen thus may provide an alert or indication to the driver of a condition or event or situation, and the driver may elect to see or learn more about the condition or event or situation via a user input or command. The display screen thus alerts the driver of certain conditions or events or situations and provides details of such conditions or events or situations only when directed to by the driver or occupant of the vehicle.

Optionally, and desirably, the display screen may extend only a small or modest amount from the mirror assembly (or from an accessory module or the like) when in the alert mode. For example, the display screen may extend toward the passenger side of the vehicle approximately ¼ to ½ inch or thereabouts when in the alert mode. The initial extension of the display screen thus may be sufficient to display an icon or other alert indication, but small enough so as to not interfere with the forward field of view of the driver. If the driver elects to view the associated message or information or the like, the driver may provide the appropriate input or command, whereby the display screen may extend the full amount from the mirror assembly or accessory module (such as approximately 2½ to 3 inches or thereabouts) and may display the associated information or message or the like.

Optionally, the alert display or message availability function may be provided by the viewable portion of the display screen that is partially extended when the display is activated in the alert mode. For example, the viewable portion of the display (or the entire display) may flash a particular color or provide other indication of the alert. Alternately, one or more indicators, such as light emitting diodes or the like, may be positioned at or along the outer edge or bezel of the display or at or along a bezel or casing of the mirror assembly or accessory module or the like, and may be activated or flashed to alert the driver of an alert condition. Optionally, the alert or indication may be provided at the mirror reflective element, such as via an icon or the like at a display of the mirror assembly, such as a display on demand or transflective type of display or the like. The driver may then activate the user input or display to have the display extend and display the message or instructions or the like in response to recognition of the activated or flashing indicator or display.

Optionally, the display screen may be selectively operable in one or more alert modes, where the display screen provides the alert indication or partial extension of the display screen for elected functions or conditions or events or the like. For example, a user or driver may select an email alert feature and/or a phone call alert feature and/or a voice message alert feature and/or a navigational aid alert feature or the like, and the display screen may provide the partial extension and alert indication for only the features or events or conditions selected by the user or driver. Such selection may be made by the driver at any time, such as when the driver initially purchases the vehicle or sets the vehicle settings to his or her desired preferences. Alternately, the display screen may be automatically operable in the alert mode to provide alert indications for a preselected set of features or conditions or events or the like (which may be preset for the particular vehicle or may be optionally selected and preset when ordering or manufacturing the vehicle or the like), without affecting the scope of the present invention.

The present invention thus provides a vehicle communication system that includes an interior assembly that includes a human-machine interface or accessory or device that is associated with and in communication with a vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication or telematics control unit or module via a connective link or pathway between the interior assembly (such as an interior rearview mirror assembly or module or pod or attachment at or near or associated with the mirror assembly) and the telematics control module in the vehicle. The connective link or pathway may comprise an existing wire or link that connects the human-machine interface (such as user actuatable inputs or microphones or the like) at the interior assembly to the in-vehicle telematics control module. The communication system includes a global positioning system control unit that is operable to provide GPS-derived vehicle location or position or directional heading data or signals and/or the like to at least one of the in-vehicle telematics control module and the interior assembly (such as to a directional heading display at the interior assembly for providing directional heading information to a driver or occupant of the vehicle) via the existing common connective link or pathway. The connective link provides a common link for communicating HMI signals and GPS-derived signals or data via the same link or pathway. The global positioning system unit may comprise a vehicle-based or telematics-based or in-vehicle GPS control unit that is positioned in or at or near or is otherwise associated with the in-vehicle telematics control module, whereby the GPS control unit may access and share and utilize the common connective link to communicate GPS-derived data or signals to the interior assembly, while the common connective link may provide HMI signals to the telematics control module from the human-machine interface at the interior assembly. Alternately, the GPS control unit may be positioned in or at or near or may be otherwise associated with the interior assembly, whereby the GPS control unit may access and share and utilize the common connective link to communicate GPS-derived data or signals to the in-vehicle telematics module, while the common connective link may provide HMI signals to the telematics control module from the human-machine interface at the interior assembly.

Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle communication system that utilizes a single or common connective link or pathway to provide communication of HMI signals from the interior assembly to the in-vehicle communication or telematics control module and to provide communication of GPS-derived signals or data from a GPS control unit to either the interior assembly or the in-vehicle telematics control module remote from the interior assembly. The present invention thus provides an effective common connection between distinct accessories or systems, without requiring separate links or wires, and thus provides such a common connection without disturbing or adversely affecting the current or existing vehicle wiring and vehicle architecture or structure. The present invention thus provides a reduced cost option of providing GPS-derived data or signals to the interior assembly in applications where the in-vehicle telematics control module includes the GPS control unit and the interior assembly includes a human-machine interface associated with the telematics control module. The present invention also provides enhanced performance of a global positioning system by positioning the GPS control unit and antenna at a preferred location (such as at the mirror assembly or module generally at the windshield of the vehicle), while providing communication of GPS-derived data or signals to the vehicle-based telematics control module via an existing and common wiring or link between the in-vehicle telematics control module and a human-machine interface of the communication system at or near the interior assembly. The GPS control unit thus may be removed from the vehicle-based telematics control module and placed at the desired location without requiring additional wiring between the in-vehicle telematics control module and the remote GPS control unit.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law. 

1. A communication system for a vehicle comprising: an interior assembly comprising at least one of (a) an interior rearview mirror assembly, (b) an accessory module at or near or attached to or associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly, (c) a windshield electronics module at or near or attached to or associated with a windshield of the vehicle, (d) an overhead accessory console of the vehicle at or near or attached to or associated with a roof of a vehicle, and (e) an extension of a console of the vehicle; an in-vehicle communication control located in the vehicle and remote from said interior assembly; a wired connective link electrically connecting said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control; a human-machine interface located at said interior assembly, said human-machine interface being connected to said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control; and a global positioning system control in the vehicle, said global positioning system control communicating at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly. 